diff --git a/include/pidomus.h b/include/pidomus.h
index 6e302718..491329ca 100644
--- a/include/pidomus.h
+++ b/include/pidomus.h
@@ -442,6 +442,7 @@ class piDoMUS : public ParameterAcceptor
   std::vector<IndexSet> relevant_partitioning;
 
   bool adaptive_refinement;
+  unsigned int max_cells;
   const bool we_are_parallel;
   bool use_direct_solver;
 
diff --git a/source/pidomus_mesh_refinement.cc b/source/pidomus_mesh_refinement.cc
index e9be375a..ffd1ccc0 100644
--- a/source/pidomus_mesh_refinement.cc
+++ b/source/pidomus_mesh_refinement.cc
@@ -77,6 +77,13 @@ piDoMUS<dim, spacedim, LAC>::solver_should_restart(const double t,
       if (max_kelly > kelly_threshold)
 
         {
+          unsigned int n_active_cells=triangulation->n_active_cells();
+          unsigned int max_cells=this->max_cells;
+          if ((max_cells > 0) & (n_active_cells > max_cells))
+            {
+              signals.end_solver_should_restart();
+              return false;
+            }
           pcout << "  ################ restart ######### \n"
                 << "max_kelly > threshold\n"
                 << max_kelly  << " >  " << kelly_threshold
diff --git a/source/pidomus_parameters.cc b/source/pidomus_parameters.cc
index c5112ea3..91bc8c12 100644
--- a/source/pidomus_parameters.cc
+++ b/source/pidomus_parameters.cc
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ declare_parameters (ParameterHandler &prm)
                   "true",
                   Patterns::Bool());
 
+  add_parameter( prm,
+                 &max_cells,
+                 "Max number of cells",
+                 "0",
+                 Patterns::Integer (0));
+
   add_parameter(  prm,
                   &verbose,
                   "Print some useful informations about processes",